Rocket cluster



Emil-w Nov. 15, 1960 L. D. JACKSON I 2,960,033

ROCKET CLUSTER Filed 001;. 30, 1946 3 Sheets-She et 1 grvuwvbob L. D. JACKSON Nov. 15, 1960 L. D. JACKSQN ROCKET CLUSTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 30, 1946 m a l .I

grwe/wkvb L. D. JACKSON L. D. JACKSON ROCKET CLUSTER Nov. 15, 1960 Filed Oct. 30, 1946 S She ets-Sheet 3 United States Patent ROCKET CLUSTER Leonard D. Jackson, 2601 Davis Ave., Alexandria, Va.

Filed Oct. 30, 1946, Ser. No. 706,788

8 Claims. (Cl. 102-40) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266) This invention relates to a rocket, and more specifically to a cluster rocket adapted to be launched from an aircraft in flight or from a ground position, as the case may be, and fire on land or water impact.

The present type rockets now in use by the armed forces are provided with a single rocket motor and a main explosive charge in which means such as a firing pin, spring and other parts are necessary to fire the center primer when the rocket strikes a target thereby to fire the main explosive charge. This invention contemplates the use of a single motor and a plurality of auxiliary explosive charges releasably nested around the motor and adapted to be fired by a rim firing primer in predetermined time delayed relation with respect to the impact of the rocket with the target. This arrangement eliminates the use of the aforesaid firing pin, spring and other parts and saves time, labor and material inasmuch as only a single motor is used to impel the plurality of explosive charges toward the target. Furthermore, the rocket of the present invention is constructed in such a manner as either to concentrate the entire plurality of charges on the target or to release the charges upon impact of the rocket with the targetand thereby scatter the charges over a wide area. a

More specifically, the invention relates to a cluster rocket in which a plurality of auxiliary explosivefilled containers are locked to the rocket body until the rocket strikes the target whereupon the containers are released therefrom and exploded when a predetermined period of time has elapsed. 1

One of the objects of the present invention is to produce a new and more powerful and destructive rocket in which a single motor is utilized to impel a plurality of auxiliary explosive charges toward the target. Another object is the provision of a new and improved rocket having an explosive filled container and a plurality of auxiliary explosive filled containers locked thereto'and adapted to be released upon impact of the rocket with the target in which firing of the explosives will occur a predetermined periodof time after the impact.

Another object is the provision of a new and improved rocket having a plurality of auxiliary explosive charges releasably secured thereto in which-means are provided for controlling the degree of concentration of the explosion of the charges on the target.

A further object is the provision of a new and improved rocket having a plurality of explosive charges ice Still other objects, advantages and improvements 'will be apparent from the description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. l is an end view of the cluster rocket constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the cluster rocket taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the outer rocket bodies locked in position in such a manner as to concentrate the entire charge upon the target; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings for a more complete understanding of the invention, the cluster rocket comprises a motor tube 10 having a motor generally indicated by the reference character 11 arranged therein. motor 11, Fig. 2, is a conventional type of rocket motor and includes the usual rocket motor components such, for example, as a propellant 12, grid 13 for supporting the propellant within the tube 11, nozzle 14 adapted to direct the gas jet in the desired direction as the propellant burns and also provides for expansion of the gases in the exit cone of the nozzle, igniter 15 having an igniter charge 16 arranged therein adapted to ignite the propellant, a squib 17 arranged within the igniter, conductors 18 secured to the squib and adapted to supply anelectrical impulse thereto when the rocket is launched and fire the squib thus igniting the igniter charge which in turn ignites the propellant.

The motor tube 10 has secured to one end thereof the usual stabilizing assembly generally indicated by the reference character 19 comprising a plurality of fins 21, the fins being secured to the tube in any suitable manner and extending radially therefrom and having a shroud 22 secured to the outer portions thereof. It will be understood, however, that the stabilizing assembly may be utilized to provide contacts for firing the squib when the rocket is launched. Therefore, as the operation and structure of rocket motors are well known to those skilled in the art, further detail description of the operation and structural arrangement thereof is deemed unnecessary in view of the fact that a conventional type of rocket motor is used.

Threaded to the other end of the motor tube 10 as at 23 is a cup-shaped member 24 having an end wall 25 integrally formed thereon. A center rocket body generally indicated by the reference character 26 and comprising a cylindrical casing 27 is secured to the cup-shaped member 24 in any suitable manner such, for example, as by threading two parts together at 28. The other end of the casing 27 is internally threaded as at 29 and having threaded engagement with a relatively thick disc 31, the disc 31 being threaded into the casing a predetermined distance thereby to provide means for also threading a center retaining head generally indicated by the reference character 32 to the end of the casing, Fig. 2.

As shown on Fig. 2, an explosive charge 33 of T.N.T. or the like is arranged within the casing 27 between the disc 31 and end wall 25 formed on the cup-shaped member'24 thereby maintaining the charge in fixed position within the casing.

A plurality of auxiliary outer rocket bodies 20 are rele'asably nested around the center rocket body 26, Fig. 2, the bodies comprising a casing 34, one end thereof being closed by a disc 35 secured thereto'in any suitable manner, preferably by welding the parts together, the other end thereof being closed by a disc 36 having threaded engagement with the casing and adapted to be threaded a predetermined distance therein such that an outer rocket head generally indicated by the reference character 37 may also be threaded into the end of'each casing 34. 1 An explosive charge 38 such, for example, as T.N.T. or the The likeis. arranged within eachcasing34, the discs 35 and 36 being provided to maintain the charges in fixed position Within the casing.

Thediscs '31 an'd 35. are provided with centrally'dispos'edthreaded-bores 39 extending'theret-hrough, having;

each housing 40, the -sta'rter;compositionhaving abutting: engagementwith a-timedelaycomposition 42, the delay composition being adapted to be fired by the starter composition upon impact of the rocket with the target thereby. to fire'the charges 33 and 38 a predetermined time after impactof the: rocket with the target, such:timedelay period being varied from.(). seconds. to lO secon'ds if desired. p

The heads 32 and 37 are providedwith end walls 43 having-centrally disposed openings formed therein and adapted to support rim firingprimers 44 in operative relation with respect to the starter composition 4-lt The rim firing primers are conventional type and adapted to be fired in the usual manner, therefore further detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The outer rocket bodies 20 are releasablysupported on the center rocket body 26 in any suitable manner but preferably by a spider generally indicated by the reference character 45 and by a plurality of lugs 46 formed on the center rocket head 32, Fig; 2. The spider comprises. a plurality of arms 47 extendingradially; from a hub'48 slideably arranged on the motor tube 10,1the spider being adapted to move to a release'position upon impact of the rocket with the target. Each arm 47 is providedwith a convex button or lug 49'secured thereto-as-at 51 and adapted to seat ina concave well52 formed in the end wall 35 of each of the outer' rocket bodies, the buttons being urged into engagement with the wells- 52 by a spring 53, one end thereofengagingthe-hub 48 on the spider 45, the other end thereof engaging a rear guide member 54 adjustably supported on the tube 10.

As shown on Fig. 2, one of the plurality of lugs 46 is adapted to engage a flange 55 for-med on each outer head 37, the'flange being maintained in locking engagement with the lug by the aforesaid spring 53. Thus with the guide member 54 clamped in the position shown on Fig. 2, the outer rockets 20 are releasablylockedto the center body 26 and will remain locked thereto until the rocket strikes the target. When this occurs the deceleration of the rocket as it strikes the target Will force the outer rocket bodies 20 rearwardly -against.the tension. o-fthe spring 53 in such a manner as to release the fianges55 from the lugs 46 and concurrently therewith the springiis contracted. When the deceleration has decreased sufficiently the now released outer rocket bodies-will be dispersed aboutthe target area, it beingunderstood, however, that the rim firing primersare fired upon the initial impact.

As shown on Fig. 2, a complementary guide member 56 similar to the guide member 54 is secured to the head 32- as byscrew 57. The guidemembers54 and 56 are adapted to support and guide the rocket iu the rocket launching rack during launching operation;

As shown on Fig. 3, the outer rocket bodies 20 are locked to the center body 26 by the'guide member-.54 and will remain locked thereto-upon impact of the rocket with the target such that the explosions'of the entire plurality of charges contained within the rocket bodies are concentrated, thus increasing the destructibility of the rocket over rockets previously used by the armed forces in which a single explosive charge is employed. lt will be understood, however,.that when the outer rocket bodies are. desired tobe locked permanently to .the cen'terirocket body, the screw 58 for clampingathe rear' guide' 54 to 1 the motor tube 10 is unscrewed sutiiciently to release the guide from the tube and to permit sliding movement of the guide along the tube whereupon the guide is forced toward the spider 45 against the tension of the spring 53 until the spring is fully contracted, Fig. 3. When this has been accomplished, the screw 58 is tightened in such a manner as to lock the guide to the tube thereby to prevent movement of the spider with respect to the guide upon impact of the rocket with the target. Therefore it will be apparent from the above description that the outer rocket bodies are permanently locked between the spider 45 and head 32' by the aforesaidbuttonsand lugs and upon impact of the rocket -with the. target the entire explosive force of the rocket bodies are concentrated on the target.

The operation of the device will now be described. Let it be assumed by way of example, that the rocket is launched from a ground position although, of course, it could. havebeen launched from an aircraftin flight; it being understood, however, that the'rocket is releasably, supportedon the launchingrack by the front and rearguides 54 and 56:. When'the squib 17 is fired by an electrical" impulse" supplied. thereto through the conductor wires' 18 from anysuitable source ofpower such, for example, as a battery, (notshown), the igniter charge 16 is. fired, whereupon the'propellant- 12 of the motor is ignited by the igniter charge'and thus the rocket is impelledfromhthelaunching racktoward the target as the propellant 'burns': When the. rocketstrikes the target the force'rof impactwitli the-target will fire therim firing primers 44 supported inthe rocket bodies 20 and 26 and concurrently. therewith the outer rocket bodies are movedrearwardlyagainst the tension ofthe spring53 in'such a manner as to disengage the flanges 55 on theouter rocket bodies from the lugs" 46 on the head 32, and the spring 53 recoils",the outer: rocket bodies are dispersed over the targetareaandare fired when a predetermined period of timehas' el-apsed,such time'delay. period being controlled by th'eitimerdelay elements respectively arranged in each rocket body."

Should it be desired to concentrate the entire explosive force of the rocket bodies onthe target, the rear guide 54 is moved-to the position shown on Fig. 3 thus permanently locking the outer'ro'cket'bodies to the center rocket body thereby to permit simultaneous firing of the rocket bodies in response to impact thereof with the target.

From-the foregoingydescription it will be understood that means are provided whereby a plurality of outer rocket-bodies are driven. through the air by a single rocket motor and are releasably locked to the main rocketbody and will remain locked thereto until impact of the rocket with the-target, whereupon the outer rocket bodies areautomaticallyreleasedfrom the main rocket body uponimpact of the 'rocket with the target thereby to disperse to outer rocket-bodies over thetarget area,- the innerand rocket "bodies being provided with time delay elements adapted to. fire the explosive charges arranged within each rocket body in predetermined time delayed relation with respect to impact of the rocket with the target, and in which means are also provided for concentratingthe entire explosiveforce of the rocket bodies on the target, if desired.-

While the invention has been described with reference to a rocket having-high explosive charges arranged'therein for destructive purposes; it will be understood; ,however, that if desired'the rocket bodies may be provided with pyrotechnic mixture such, for example; asthe type now-"used in signalling devices; smoke emitingdevices and thelike;

While-the invention has been described with reference to a particular example thereof which give satisfactoryresults, it will beobvious to those skilled'in the art to which the -inventionpertains;after understanding the invention, that'fvarious changesand modifications may be made without departingzfr'omihe spirit and scope 'of the invention;

5, and it is my intention therefore, in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

The invention herein described and claimed may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A cluster rocket having a motor adapted to impel the rocket from a launching rack toward a target, means on said rocket for supporting the rocket in said launching rack and guiding the rocket therefrom as the motor is set in operation, a main casing secured to said motor and having an explosive charge arranged therein, a plurality of auxiliary casings having opposite ends thereof adaptable to be releasably secured to said main casing, a plurality of explosive charges respectively arranged within said auxiliary casings, lug and spring actuated spider means engaging said opposite ends for releasably securing the auxiliary casings to said main casing until impact of the rocket with the target, and means for firing said explosive charges in predetermined time delayed relation with respect to said impact.

2. A cluster rocket having a motor adapted to impel the rocket from a launching rack and through the air toward a target, a pair of members secured to said rocket for supporting the rocket in said launching rack and guiding the rocket therefrom as the motor is set in operation, a main casing secured to said motor, an explosive charge arranged within said main casing, a plurality of auxiliary casings having opposite ends thereof adaptable to be releasably secured to said main casing, a plurality of explosive charges respectively arranged within said auxiliary casings, lug means and spider means engaging said opposite ends for releasably securing the auxiliary casings to said main casing, spring means on said main casing in engagement with one of said supporting members and the spider means for maintaining said lug means and spider means in engagement with said opposite ends until impact of the rocket with the target, and means for firing said explosive charges in predetermined time delayed relation with respect to said impact.

3. A cluster rocket having a motor adapted to impel the rocket from a launching rack and through the air toward a target as the motor is set in operation, a main casing secured to said motor, a pair of members secured to said motor and casing respectively for supporting the rocket in said launching rack and guiding the rocket therefrom when the motor is set in operation, an explosive charge arranged within said casing, a plurality of auxiliary casings circumferentially and releasably arranged on said main casing, a plurality of explosive charges respectively arranged within said auxiliary casings, means including a plurality of lugs for maintaining the auxiliary casings circumferentally and releasably on the main casing until impact of the rocket with the target, and means including a plurality of rim firing primers for firing said explosive charges in predetermined time delayed relation with respect to said impact.

4. A cluster rocket of the character disclosed adapted to be launched from a launching rack and comprising an elongated casing, a motor arranged within said casing for impelling said rocket from said rack and through the air toward a target, a pair of members on said rocket for guiding the rocket from said rack when the rocket is set in motion, an explosive inner container in alignment with and secured to said casing, a plurality of auxiliary explosive containers disposed about and releasably secured to said inner container, a flange portion secured to one end of said auxiliary containers respectively, a plurality of lugs on one end of said inner container in locking engagement with said flange portions, a spider slideably arranged on the casing, a plurality of buttons on said spider in locking engagement with the other ends of said auxiliary containers, means on the casing and having one end in engagement with one of said guide members and the other end thereof in engagement with said spider for releasably maintaining said lugs in locking engagement with said flange portion and said buttons in locking engagement with said other ends of said auxiliary containers until impact of the rocket with the target, a plurality of time delay elements arranged within said containers respectively, and a plurality of rim firing primers arranged within said containers in alignment with said delay elements for firing said delay elements thereby to fire said explosive containers in time delayed relation with respect to impact of the rocket with the target.

5. A cluster rocket comprising an elongated casing, a motor arranged within said casing and adapted to impel the rocket from a launching rack and through the air toward a target when the motor is set in operation, a main container secured to said casing in alignment therewith, a plurality of lugs secured to one end of said casing, an explosive charge arranged within said container, a plurality of auxiliary containers releasably secured to said container, a plurality of flange members respectively disposed within one end of said auxiliary containers in engagement with said lugs, a plurality of explosive charges respectively arranged within said auxiliary containers, a spider slideably arranged on said casing and normally in looking engagement with the other end of said auxiliary containers and adapted to coact with said flange members and lugs for releasably locking the auxiliary containers to the main casing, a spring disposed about the casing in engagement with said spider for releasably maintaining the auxiliary containers locked to the main container and adapted to release the auxiliary containers upon impact of the rocket with the target, and means including a plurality of rim firing primers arranged within said containers for firing said explosive charges in predetermined time delayed relation with respect to said impact.

6. A cluster rocket having a motor adapted to impel the rocket from a launching rack and through the air toward a target as the motor is set in operation, a housing for said motor, a main casing secured to said housing in alignment therewith, a pair of guide members secured to said housing and easing respectively for guiding said rocket from said rack, an explosive charge arranged within said casing, a plurality of auxiliary casings circumferentially and releasably arranged on said main casing, a plurality of explosive charges respectively arranged within said auxiliary casings, a plurality of end walls respectively arranged on said auxiliary casings, each of said end walls having a recess formed therein, a member slideably arranged on said motor housing and having a plurality of arms extending radially therefrom, a plurality of buttons respectively arranged on said arms in engagement with said recesses respectively, lug means on said main casing in engagement with said auxiliary casings respectively at the opposite ends thereof with respect to said buttons and adapted to coact with said buttons for releasably locking said auxiliary casings to said main casing, a spring arranged about said housing and having one end in engagement with one of said guide members and the other end thereof in engagement with said slideable member for maintaining the auxiliary casings locked to said main casing until impact of the rocket with said target, and means including a plurality of rim firing primers respectively arranged in said casings for firing said explosive charges in time delayed relation with respect to said impact.

7. A cluster rocket having a motor adapted to impel the rocket from a launching rack and through the air toward a target as the motor is set in operation, a motor housing, a main casing secured to said motor housing and having an explosive charge therein, a plurality of auxiliary casings releasably locked to said main casing, means including a plurality of lugs and buttons carried by said main casing in engagement with said auxiliary casings for releasably locking said auxiliary casings to the main casing until impact of the rocket with saidtarget, a" plurality of :explosive charg'esi respectively arranged in said auxiliary casings; a guidel'member securedto said main: casing, a complementary guide member on saidmotor and adapted to coact' with said first named i guide memberfor guiding the'rocket from said rack, means on said last named guide'mem'be'r: for controlling thedegree of dispersio nz of said auxiliary casings as theiro'cket strikes the'target, and means'including: aplurality. of

delay elements respectively. arranged within'sai'd auxiliary casings for firing said explosive charges'in'predeterminedtime delay relatiomwith.respectito impact of the rocket with said target.

8. A cluster rocket having a motor adapted to impel the plosive charges respectively arranged in said auxiliary 8 casings, means: including'a plurality of delay' elements respectively arranged within? said-auxiliary casings for firing said explosive charges in: predetermined time delayed relation with respectto impact of'the rocket with said target; a' guidemember secured to oneen'dbfsaid main casing,x a complementary guide member slideably arr-anged'on said housing and adapted to coact with said first named guide member for guiding the rocket from s'aid'rack when said motor is set in operation; and means includinga member in threaded engagement with said last named guide member for locking the guide member to'the housing ,and' the auxiliary casings to the main'cas-' ing for controlling the degree of-dispersion of the auxiliary' casings-as the rocket strikes-the target.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED- STATES PATENTS 2,087,287 Hulswit July-20, 1937 2,151,916 Hulswit" Mail"; 28 1939" 2,332,670 Rouse Oct. 26', 1943 2,379,257 Scott June 26; 1945 2,414,579 Anderson et al. Ian. 21, 1947 2,447,941 Imber et'al Aug; 24, 1948' 

